The annual meeting of the Friends of the Ouachita Trail (FoOT) took place on Saturday, November 5, at 11:00 am in the Chopping Block Restaurant in Mena, AR. The meeting was convened primarily to elect three new board members for the non-profit corporation. Ron Mayfield, Bill Mooney, and Sid Wood were elected to fill the expiring terms of Ed Hawkins, Kris McMillen, and Mike Sims. President Jim Gifford expressed excitement about welcoming new members to the board, praising their fresh perspective and enthusiasm for the organization.
FoOT Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Gaskill presented a robust financial report and summarized the votes received for directors to date. Attendees had the opportunity to vote in person, and a motion was made and approved to accept the election results. The new directors will commence their three-year terms in January, during which the board will elect officers for 2012.
The meeting also included a recap of the past year’s achievements, highlighting the outstanding trail conditions, over 4800 volunteer man-hours contributed, membership growth, media recognition, successful events such as the “40th anniversary of the Ouachita Trail,” and support for the “Ouachita Challenge” mountain bike race.
President Gifford concluded the meeting by presenting special recognition awards to five FoOT members for their exceptional contributions to the organization. Carolyn Shearman was recognized for her diligent record-keeping, Loretta Melancon for her service on the board and event organization efforts, Mike Sims and Ed Hawkins for their tenure as retiring board members, and Kris McMillen for her role as co-founder and retiring Vice-President of Maintenance.
The FoOT annual membership meeting serves as a vital requirement for the organization’s non-profit status. Members were encouraged to RSVP by November 3, and participation in the election of directors was emphasized as essential for the organization’s health and success. Additionally, members were reminded of the annual confirmation of their membership as mandated by Arkansas law.